10 Bloodiest Moments in Sports History
Wayne Shelford
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New Zealand rugby union player Wayne “Buck” Shelford has a reputation for being one of the toughest players to ever play the sport. And, with this incident in mind, he has that moniker for a very, very good reason. In 1986, the All-Blacks took on France in what's infamously known as “The Battle of Nantes.” Halfway through the first half, Shelford was involved in a ruck that would make most people sob on the floor in pain. A French player’s studs made contact with the number 8’s family jewels. All that we’ll say is that they were damaged…permanently. Yikes. Amazingly, Shelford got the physio to stitch it up and continued playing before he got a concussion and had to be subbed off.
Johnny Hoogerland
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In 2011, Dutch cyclist Johnny Hoogerland was competing in the ninth stage of the Tour de France. As he and four other bikers broke away during the last stretch, a France Télévisions car that was recording the event got way too close to the group. It hit Juan Antonio Flecha, who lost control and slammed into the ground. But not before he collided with Hoogerland, who went flying into a barbed wire fence. On top of his attire being torn to shreds, the Dutchman’s legs received many wounds that required 33 stitches. Amazingly, Hoogerland finished the stage. In 2014, he agreed to a compensation deal with the insurance company AIG.
Richard Zedník
With a sport involving sharp blades on the bottom of shoes, gruesome injuries can happen. Playing for the Florida Panthers, right winger Richard Zedník was accidentally sliced across the neck by teammate Olli Jokinen and his carotid artery was damaged. Thankfully, medical staff sprang to action quickly as they helped Zedník receive treatment, leaving a trail of crimson in his wake. He went on to have emergency surgery at the hospital to repair the damage. Less than a week after the incident, he was released. Even more amazingly, Zedník was able to return to the ice and play for a couple more years before retiring in 2011.
Bryce Florie
Taking on the New York Yankees in 2000, the Boston Red Sox’s pitcher, Bryce Florie, threw a pitch. However, the ensuing line drive caused the ball to strike Florie’s face. The incredible force caused him to suffer a fractured cheekbone and orbital socket that required surgery. After physically recovering, Florie struggled to regain his form after the trauma and was released by the Sox. He then played in the Minor Leagues. (Xref) A similar incident took place in 2014 when pitcher Mike Fiers threw a pitch that struck Giancarlo Stanton directly in the face. The impact caused several fractures, cuts, and dental damage, and he was forced to miss the rest of the season.
The Undertaker
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At “No Mercy” in 2002, then-rising star Brock Lesnar was defending the WWE Championship against the Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match for the main event. During the match, the wrestler known as the Beast Incarnate was busted open after being hit with an arm cast. This was quickly followed by Paul Heyman receiving some punishment as well. But when ‘Taker was struck by the steps and began bleeding, that’s when it got a bit much. He was absolutely soaked, making it look like he was wearing a red facial mask. The mat was caked in crimson by the time Lesnar retained his title.
Paulo Diogo
Footballers love to celebrate scoring a goal. But no celebration has perhaps left as much of a mark on a player as Paulo Diogo’s did in 2004. Playing for Servette FC in Switzerland, Diogo assisted Jean Beausejour’s goal and then ran towards the fans and climbed a fence to rejoice. However, as he jumped off, he didn’t realize his wedding ring was caught. As the pain hit him, he looked at his hand and saw his finger was missing. Quickly, officials began looking for the missing digit as Diogo bellowed in agony. The referee heartlessly booked Diogo for the celebration taking too long. Sadly for the midfielder, the finger couldn’t be reattached.
Kevin Ware
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In March 2013, the Louisville Cardinals played the Duke Blue Devils in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Kevin Ware jumped to block a three-point attempt. But as he landed on the court, his lower leg snapped, causing a compound fracture. Fans, players, and officials alike were devastated at the gruesome sight. Ware was rushed to the hospital, where he had surgery to reset the snapped tibia with the help of a metal rod. Amazingly, by November of that year, Ware returned to the court for the Cardinals. By 2016, the point guard became a pro and has played for several teams across the world.
Jessica Dubé
Alongside her partner Bryce Davison at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in 2007, Jessica Dubé did a camel spin, much to the delight of fans and judges in attendance. However, they got too close to each other. Davison’s blade, believed to be going at 40 miles per hour, struck Dubé across the face, and she collapsed on the floor. It took around 80 stitches to cover up the massive wound. Both Davison and Dubé also went on to receive treatment for PTSD. The duo returned to competing on the ice a month later.
Ewald Lienen
In 1981, Arminia Bielefeld’s Ewald Lienen was brought down by Werder Bremen’s Norbert Siegmann in Germany’s Bundesliga. It was a foul, sure, but the damage…yikes. Siegmann’s studs seemingly caused a huge wound on Lienen’s thigh that was deep. Amazingly, the adrenaline allowed the striker to stand up and argue with officials over the damage. After going to the hospital to get stitches, Lienen returned to training less than 20 days later. (Xref) Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney had a similar experience against Fulham in 2012. After a collision with Hugo Rodallega, the forward came away with a deep laceration on his thigh that required surgery.
Clint Malarchuk
In March 1989, the St. Louis Blues took on the Buffalo Sabres. In net for the latter was goaltender Clint Malarchuk. During a rough goalline scramble that had a collision with multiple players, Malarchuk quickly grabbed his neck. A blade from another player had sliced through his carotid artery and damaged the jugular. Quick actions by the team’s medics saved his life, and emergency surgery repaired the damage. Somehow, within 10 days, Malarchuk was back playing. But the PTSD from this experience tainted his life for years.
